Kelly Clarkson Is Leaving Texas For Tennessee

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Pop singer and 2002 American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson has been flirting with the country side of the fence quite a bit over the years, even so far as recording with the likes of Reba McEntire and, last year, Jason Aldean (her duet with Jason, “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” went on to win two ACM awards).

Now she’s making another move in the country music direction–literally, this time. She’s put her Mansfield, Texas home on the market and is making Nashville her new, fulltime home.

“It’s like Texas, but I can get work done, as well,” she told the Nashville Tennessean in a recent interview. “Everybody’s kind of the same speed as Texans, and everybody’s really nice and welcoming.”

According to the real estate site Zillow, Clarkson’s Texas house is hitting the market for a cool $1.495 million. It’s a four-bedroom, six-bath, 6,880-square-foot beauty that includes dual master suites, a theater room, and a gym. Kelly’s entire property encompasses over 50 acres, but the listing includes just 14.

One of the reasons that Kelly is choosing to spend more time in Nashville has to do with romance. As she confessed to the Tennessean, she’s currently “dating someone I’m pretty in love with.” That someone? Brandon Blackstock, who’s the stepson of Reba, as well as the son of Kelly’s manager, Narvel Blackstock.

In general, though, she admits that she’s finding more and more affinity with the country music community as a whole.

“I do love pop music,” she told the Tennessean, “but I think I have more of a Southern mentality. Even just emotionally, I’m more that girl. So I get along better with the Mirandas and the Blakes and the Jennifers and Rebas.”

She also admitted that, in the future, she might aim some of her material a little more clearly toward the country audience.

“I think we’re going to try and do a couple (of songs) just for country music, and still keep doing stuff for pop, as well,” she said. “I never want to compromise my career just to get more fans. I think that’s cheesy, and I think it’s transparent, as well. As long as it’s a natural thing, and it’s something that I love, I’m totally cool with doing it.”